The project pilot payloads were small cylindrical satellites. These missions intended to be the first to launch a satellite from an aircraft. They had only a single instrument, a very primitive infrared line scanning device to make IR images of the ground. August 12, 1958 at 00:00 UTC · Launch Failure Project Pilot — US Navy, to Low Earth Orbit Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Air launch to Suborbital flight The world's 16th orbital launch attempt, and 13th of 1958. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs.